* Subscribers were briefed about this on Thursday. ICYMI: Illinois Medicaid covers gender-affirming care. The massive House bill aims to end that.Tribune…

- Illinois’ Medicaid program now covers gender-affirming care, which can include a range of services such as hormone therapy and surgeries.
- The new provision, however, would prohibit Medicaid programs from covering those services for people of all ages on Medicaid — not just people younger than 18, as a previous version of the bill proposed.
-Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office said in a statement Thursday that it is evaluating the proposal and its potential implications.

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Sponsored by the Illinois Health and Hospital Association

What’s at Stake with 340B: Hospitals and FQHCs Want to Provide More Services, Big Pharma Wants to Benefit Shareholders

Why do hospitals and FQHCs want to protect the 340B drug discount program? Because it helps them care for patients. The 1992 program, created by Congress, has allowed hospitals and FQHCs serving many uninsured and low-income patients to “stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services.”

Pharmaceutical manufacturers agreed with expanding 340B to include more hospitals in 2010, but in 2020 began imposing restrictions on 340B providers to protect their bottom line and hundreds of billions in annual revenue. Big Pharma has a significant financial interest in preventing legislation—SB 2385 and HB 3350—that would ensure the 340B program fully benefits patients and providers.

Big Pharma is looking out for their shareholders. Illinois hospitals and FQHCs are looking out for their patients.

Big Pharma claims patients aren’t benefiting from 340B. Here’s the truth:

• Hospitals and FQHCs put 340B savings toward addressing critical community health needs.
• Those savings provide access to low-cost medications and financial assistance to low-income patients.
• Hospitals and FQHCs can also offer essential services, such as obstetrics, oncology and inpatient psychiatric care.

The Illinois Patient Access to 340B Pharmacy Protection Act (SB 2385/HB 3350) is modeled after legislation passed in 14 states. It reinforces 340B through the State’s authority to regulate the distribution of drugs and protect access to healthcare.

Vote YES on SB 2385/HB 3350 to restore 340B and help the most vulnerable communities. Get the TRUTH about 340B and learn why it matters to patients.

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* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Sun-Times | Homeowners pay price for insurance industry’s reluctance to address climate change, consumer groups say: The insurance industry’s continued embrace of fossil fuel projects is worsening climate change, which ultimately hits consumers in the form of higher premiums for homeowners insurance, consumer groups said Wednesday. The four organizations — U.S. PIRG, Consumer Federation of America, Americans for Financial Reform and Public Citizen — blasted the insurance industry on the same day lobbyists for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association were on Capitol Hill for their annual “Legislative Action Day.”

* Sun-Times | Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul takes leading role in fighting Trump. ‘We are winning’: “I’d be lying to you if I told you this is not scary to me. That this does not hit me emotionally. That it’s not personal to me. Our very first lawsuit, birthright citizenship. I’m a birthright baby, right? My mom was not yet naturalized when I was born,” Raoul said in an interview with the Sun-Times. “I’m a cancer survivor. I’m a prostate cancer survivor. I was very public when I was diagnosed, partially because it was therapeutic to me while I was going through it.”

*** Statewide ***

* Planned Parenthood Illinois…

Republican Leadership in Congress is targeting Planned Parenthood and trying to block patients from getting care in a “defund” bill targeting Medicaid that could pass within the next week. If they succeed, one-third of Planned Parenthood health centers across the country could close, including here in Illinois. In Illinois, over 40% of Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) patients use Medicaid to cover the cost of their health care which includes birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, prenatal care, gender-affirming care and abortion services.  […]

If Medicaid is targeted, PPIL will be forced to make deep cuts including possibly closing health centers and increasing costs. PPIL is the largest provider of sexual and reproductive health care in the state, defunding PPIL would have dire implications for the health and wellness of Illinoisans.  […]

REMINDER:   
“Defunding” Planned Parenthood is unpopular. 73% oppose a congressional defund, including 55% of Trump voters. 

Every year, Planned Parenthood health centers provide 9 million services to more than 2 million patients, including STI testing and treatments, Pap tests, breast exams, birth control, HPV vaccines, and more.  

At least 55% of Planned Parenthood patients rely on federally funded programs to get care at Planned Parenthood. If Planned Parenthood is defunded by Congress, many patients won’t be able to get care at Planned Parenthood health centers — and as recent reports show, these patients can’t be absorbed by other health care providers. Most will have nowhere else to go for care.  

Defunding Planned Parenthood will cost taxpayers nearly $300 million.  

No other provider can step in and replace Planned Parenthood for the patients that will lose care, according to new Guttmacher Institute research.

*** Statehouse News ***

* The Daily Northwestern | Activists rally for climate legislation in Springfield during annual Climate Action Lobby Day: Throughout the day, attendees stressed the importance of three specific bills: the Clean and Healthy Buildings Act, the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act and the Clean and Equitable Transportation Act. The Clean and Healthy Buildings Act aims to phase out gas burners and stoves so buildings run on clean energy. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act attempts to modernize the state’s power grid, making it more reliable and affordable while prioritizing clean energy.

* Capitol News Illinois | Summer electric price spike fuels policy tensions in Springfield: The average residential customer of northern Illinois’ Commonwealth Edison will pay about $10.60 per month more this summer, according to a company statement. Downstate Ameren Illinois customers, meanwhile, can expect an 18% to 22% increase in their monthly bill. Prices will likely decrease in October once winter electric rates go into effect.

* Press Release…

Attorney General Kwame Raoul today won a court order stopping the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education. On March 13, Raoul, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, sued the administration after it announced plans to eliminate half of the department’s workforce.
 
“The Department of Education plays a crucial role in protecting K-12 education for all Americans – from ensuring that students with disabilities have equal access to classrooms, to protecting students from discrimination and harassment,” Raoul said. “The Trump administration’s actions are unlawful, unconstitutional and most severely harm students who have the most need for the department’s programs and services. I’m pleased with the court’s decision, and I will continue to stand with my colleagues to ensure all children have the opportunity of a quality education.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | Savings from shuttering Stateville’s maximum security prison minimal as reception center grows: The governor’s proposed operating budget for Stateville in the upcoming year is $148 million. That’s down from $159 million budgeted in the current fiscal year — and less than $150 million is expected to be actually spent — but more than the facility’s $146 million budget two years ago, when the maximum security prison was operational for the entire year. Officials said the reason the proposed funding is in the same ballpark as recent Stateville budgets is in part because of the increased population of the two remaining facilities on the Joliet-area campus, a reception and classification center and a minimum security unit.

* Sun-Times | Cook County assessor gave $930,000 in wrongful tax breaks, then waived penalties, interest over its errors: Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi has mistakenly handed out more than $930,000 in property tax breaks to homeowners and businesses since he took office nearly seven years ago. Those “erroneous” property tax exemptions went to 287 property owners, according to the assessor’s office. Kaegi’s staff says his office goes after those it finds took tax exemptions they didn’t qualify to get, and that it initially sought to collect another $900,000 in penalties and interest from those 287 property owners — money his office would use to help catch people cheating on their real estate taxes.

* Daily Herald | Police say attackers called her a slur. Why aren’t the suspects charged with a hate crime?: Police over the weekend said hate crime charges against Kammrad and a 17-year-old co-defendant were discussed, but rejected by the Kane County state’s attorney’s office. But on Wednesday, State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser said she has not yet ruled out adding hate crime charges for Kammrad and the 17-year-old boy. She is not done with her investigation and will pursue justice “based on the full facts of the case,” she said in a written statement.

* Press Release | Rolling Meadows City Council: The City Council will hire its project team to support the relocation of the Chicago Bears to Arlington Park during its next business meeting. The team will guide the City’s preparation and support every stage of the potential stadium project from initial concepts through construction.

* Daily Herald | Wheeling cannabis dispensary closing: Okay Cannabis, 781 N. Milwaukee Ave., will close for good by the end of the month, a store employee confirmed Thursday. The West Town Bakery that operated in the same building and was owned by the same parent company shuttered in March. “Ownership has cited a combination of factors, including sales performance that fell short of projections and the high costs associated with operating a large, nearly 12,000-square-foot facility,” said Len Becker, Wheeling’s economic development director.

* Daily Herald | History detective uncovers stories of Arlington Heights’ forgotten Civil War soldiers: Already writing articles for the Arlington Heights Historical Society and Museum’s newsletter, the history buff decided to embark on a project to find the names and learn the stories of all Arlington Heights residents who fought in the Civil War. Scouring newspaper archives, databases, genealogical volumes, census records and other documents, Maloney has identified 51 soldiers who participated in the war and lived within the vicinity of what became Arlington Heights.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Executives’ Club of Chicago names new CEO, president:
Dorri McWhorter on Thursday was named president and CEO of the Executives’ Club, effective June 2. She succeeds Margaret Mueller, who stepped down in March after six years to join private investment firm Tilia Holdings. Established in 1911, the invitation-only organization helps executives in the city grow their leadership and organization skills through connections and innovation.

* Sun-Times | Chicago Teachers Union calls for more charter school oversight: Charter schools have come under scrutiny after abrupt closings. Sixteen charter schools whose contracts expire in June are expected to be considered for renewal at the board meeting next week.

* Block Club | Midnight Softball, Park Pop-Ups Planned As City Looks To Curb Summer Violence: Launched in December 2023, the city’s “People’s Plan for Community Safety” aims to tackle the root causes of violence, using a people-first approach to offer programs, events and services in historically underserved neighborhoods. In its first year, the program was centralized around 10-block groups across the four neighborhoods of Austin, West Garfield Park, Englewood and Little Village, which were identified as experiencing a high concentration of violence.

* Tribune | Chicago and Calumet rivers ‘pretty clean,’ report shows ahead of Memorial Day Weekend: “The Chicago River is pretty clean. It’s a lot better than it used to be, but it can always be better,” said Tara Hoffman, executive director of Recovery on Water, the rowing team. “We exist to get women moving when they might be otherwise inclined. … And that outdoors element, being on our river and experiencing urban nature — which is all around us, but it’s easy to miss — that’s a real draw for a lot of people.”

*** Downstate ***

* WCIA | Homeless people in Danville are being kicked out their home in the park: Officials say those living in Ellsworth Park must leave by tomorrow. But people living there say there aren’t many other options. The police chief said it’s because they’ve been getting complaints about trash, used needles and other health risk items around the area. He said because the park is popular… public health and safety is a top priority.

* WCIA | Springfield attorney suspended by Illinois Supreme Court: A woman who logged hours as an Assistant Illinois Attorney General and a Sangamon Public Defender — reportedly at the same time — will be suspended by the Illinois Supreme Court. According to a release sent out by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (IARDC) of the Supreme Court of Illinois, Salena Young will be suspended for two years. Young was employed as an Assistant Illinois Attorney General, worked as a part-time Sangamon Public Defender and operated a solo law practice between November 2021 and June 2023.

* WCSJ | Grundy Co. Board of Health Has Discussions About Suspending Behavioral Health Services: During the public comment section of the meeting last night, Shawn Gibson expressed his frustration with that decision. […] “Just explain why and how it came about. It’s not just we decided one day to come and shut everything off, just explain why how it happened…I’d also like to know what we are telling our clients. What exactly are we telling them…” Board President Joan Harrop said the reason was due to the lack of employees and therapist leaving for better paying jobs.

* WTVO | Pritzker selects Rockford to be 1 of 5 state-designated cultural districts: The chosen area for the cultural district is home to Rockford’s first neighborhood, located in the Southwest corridor of the city. “We don’t want to compete with Chicago or with any of the other things because there are going to be five of them… we just wanted one out of those five, and Chicago could have the other four if they want, but we wanted one here for Rockford,” said Swiftt President Rudy Valdez.

* WCIA | Engines revving again: Coles County Speedway seeing success after new ownership takes the wheel: The Indy 500 is just a few days away, but the excitement around a different kind of racing extends closer to home. Mattoon is home to the nation’s oldest micro sprint race track. But until a year and a half ago, when current owner Brian Rieck got involved, the sound of roaring engines was almost silenced for good in Coles County.

* WICS | Springfield appoints new police and fire chiefs: he Springfield City Council has selected new leaders for the city’s police and fire departments. Joseph Behl, an 18-year veteran of the Springfield Police Department, has been appointed as the new police chief. Behl, who previously served as the assistant police chief, shared his vision for the department. “As your police chief, it will truly be my honor to serve this community alongside the dedicated men and women of our department. Each day we come to work with a shared purpose, to protect with courage, to serve with compassion and to build lasting trust with people that we are sworn to protect,” said Behl.

*** National ***

* The Bond Buyer | Massive tax, spending bill passes House, now heads to Senate: The House early Thursday morning passed a massive tax and spending bill that leaves the municipal bond tax exemption untouched after months of market speculation. It now heads to the Senate, which will shape the legislation to its own priorities.

* AP | Trump’s big tax bill has passed the House. Here’s what’s inside it: House Republicans would reduce spending on food aid, what is known as the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, by about $267 billion over 10 years. States would shoulder 5% of benefit costs, beginning in fiscal 2028, and 75% of the administrative costs. Currently, states pay none of the benefit and half of the administration costs.

* WaPo | Supreme Court allows Trump to fire independent regulators for now: The court’s unsigned order, which drew a sharp dissent from the three liberal justices, did not decide the underlying merits of the case, which will continue to play out in the lower courts. But it was a strong endorsement of presidential authority at a time when President Donald Trump is trying to seize greater control of the federal bureaucracy. “Because the Constitution vests the executive power in the President,” the conservative majority said, “he may remove without cause executive officers who exercise that power on his behalf, subject to narrow exceptions recognized by our precedents.”

* CNBC | April home sales dropped to the slowest pace for that month since 2009: Home sales in April fell, as consumers faced high house prices and growing concern over the economy and employment. “Home sales have been at 75% of normal or pre-pandemic activity for the past three years, even with seven million jobs added to the economy,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.